Your Outline = Your Lifeline Estimate, Identify, Enhance Set up Categories
Whatever type of book that you are writing—memoir, autobiography, novel, how-to, self-help, cookbook, non-fiction—organization is key. Begin with an outline. When you get stuck in a writer’s block or when you think you cannot finish, your outline will get you through. Your outline will guide your pen.
There are many ways to approach creating an outline: chronological, problem and solution, the production process (step-by-step) and broad-to-specific are just a few. Begin with categories.
If you are writing a memoir, autobiography, or family history, your categories could be time increments or geographical locations. Begin your family history in your earliest ancestor’s country. Research what life was like then, how they journeyed to America. Your next time period would be their life as new Americans. Continue their life down to the current generation.
If you are writing your memoir, begin at a significant moment in your life and go back in time to what led up to that moment and what life was like following that moment. If you want to write about a difficult period in your life, read other stories in this genre and perhaps join a support group that will help you focus on your story. Another approach is to begin by writing the first events in your life that you can remember, chronologically, from the beginning of your life.
An arts & hobbies book might be narrowed down to sub-categories of candle making and decorating. Organize the material in a step-by-step fashion, leading the reader from your research about how candles developed and became popular, how to make them, and how to decorate with them. Your book has evolved to one on the subject of candle making. A cook book offers a multitude of choices from appetizers to desserts, regional to retro recipes.
A novel is more ambitious. Begin with the broader points—the premise or big idea and add the main points, then the supporting ideas for each chapter. If your story is set in an historical setting, your research must be impeccable. Make a brief summary of your storyline—three or four sentences. Who are your main characters? Your storyline may develop twists and turns and supporting characters will come and go but writing a summary and developing an outline will help keep your focus. Name your characters; decide on their personalities and what motivates them. What are the goals of your characters, how will they reach those goals, and what will they do if thwarted? You should have a good idea of a story worth telling by now. Consider joining a writing class or hiring a professional editor before publishing when writing a novel.
Also you may pull content from previous speeches, presentations, or training materials that you have already prepared. Many of us have unpublished books lying around our office, on our computer, or stuck in a drawer or on a jump drive. It’s time to dust off this precious content, refresh and update it, and publish it.
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Frederick Jones is an attorney, professor, and bestselling author of Publish Me Now. He is the founder and president of Publish Me Now University™ and creator of Write Your Worth™ live events. To learn more about his Write Your Bestseller course, go to bit.ly/PublishMeNow to book a free strategy session and start writing and publishing today.
NOTE: While I am an attorney , I’m not your attorney. The content of this blog is for business coaching and educational information only. It is not legal advice. Readers are encouraged to seek legal counsel regarding specific questions about this post.